The Olfactory Library

Welcome to the building blocks of the invisible art. If a perfume is a symphony, then these are the individual notes on the sheet music—the singular elements that the perfumer arranges to create a melody that lingers on your skin.


Whether you are here to understand why you adore Vetiver but detest Patchouli, or simply to find out what "Iso E Super" actually is, this library is your guide.

Florals

The undisputed heart of perfumery, ranging from the innocent whisper of a spring muguet to the narcotic, carnal shout of a tuberose. These notes provide the romance and the texture, proving that flowers are far too complex to be considered merely 'pretty'.

Privet note image

Privet

Hedge flowers. Smells sweet and slightly dusty.

Cistus Incanus note image

Cistus Incanus

Rockrose. It smells resinous, herbal, and sweet, related to Labdanum.

Azalea note image

Azalea

A dusty, slightly spicy floral scent. It isn't strongly fragrant in nature, so it's often a fantasy interpretation of the pink blooms.

Chinotto blossom note image

Chinotto blossom

The flower of the Myrtle-leaved orange tree. It smells like neroli with a darker twist.

Starflower note image

Starflower

Borage. Cucumber-like.

Cherry Blossom note image

Cherry Blossom

Sakura. It smells very faint, fresh, and slightly powdery, symbolizing fleeting beauty.

Safflower note image

Safflower

Thistle-like flower. Oily and hay-like.

Paramela note image

Paramela

A plant from Patagonia. Smells honeyed and herbal.

Astragalus note image

Astragalus

An herb used in traditional medicine with a sweet, earthy, root-like smell. It feels grounding and restorative.

Fuchsia note image

Fuchsia

A mostly scentless flower, represented as a green, slightly fruity floral.

Prunella note image

Prunella

Self-heal herb. Mildly minty and herbal.

Bluebell note image

Bluebell

A dewy, green floral scent that is notoriously hard to extract. It smells like a damp English forest floor in spring.

Blue Poppy note image

Blue Poppy

A Himalayan flower with a cool, earthy floral scent. It feels rare and mountainous.

Queen of the Night Flower note image

Queen of the Night Flower

Selenicereus. Vanilla-scented cactus flower that blooms once.

Buddleia note image

Buddleia

The Butterfly Bush, smelling sweet, honeyed, and slightly almond-like. It attracts pollinators and noses alike.

Rose Japanese (Hamanasu) note image

Rose Japanese (Hamanasu)

Rosa rugosa. Spicy and clove-like.

Hawthorn note image

Hawthorn

A divisive blossom that can smell sweet and almondy, or distinctly organic and decaying.

Nom Maew note image

Nom Maew

A Thai flower smelling of ripe jackfruit and magnolia.

Periwinkle note image

Periwinkle

Vinca. A mild, herbaceous floral scent.

Wildflowers note image

Wildflowers

Generic meadow scent. Honeyed and varied.

View All Florals Notes

Fruits, Nuts & Savoury Notes

This is the scent of the orchard and the vegetable patch rather than the patisserie, capturing the crisp snap of an apple or the earthy grit of a carrot. These notes add a mouth-watering texture and vitality, bringing a sense of abundance and natural realism that prevents a fragrance from feeling too abstract.

Peanut note image

Peanut

Earthy, oily, and roasted. A savory gourmand note that is distinctively leguminous.

Guarana note image

Guarana

Amazonian berry. It smells fruity, slightly medicinal, and energizing.

Black Walnut note image

Black Walnut

Distinctive, earthy, and oily nut scent. It smells darker and more tannic than regular walnuts.

Bitter melon note image

Bitter melon

Green, watery, and distinctly bitter. It adds a sharp, vegetal crunch that feels healthy and astringent.

Count's Fruit note image

Count's Fruit

A specific exotic fruit, sweet and juicy.

Gooseberry note image

Gooseberry

Tart, green, and slightly hairy. It adds a sharp, acidic fruitiness.

Daikon Radish note image

Daikon Radish

Peppery, crisp, and watery. It adds a sharp, earthy crunch that feels decidedly modern and savory.

Almond note image

Almond

Bittersweet and creamy, sometimes leaning towards marzipan or cherry. It adds a comforting, nutty gourmand facet to perfumes.

Barberry note image

Barberry

A tart red berry that is acidic and sharp. It cuts through sweetness like a little red knife.

Artichoke note image

Artichoke

Vegetal, green, and slightly earthy. It is an unusual note that adds a savory, culinary twist to niche scents.

Corn note image

Corn

Sweet, starchy, and milky. Unusual in perfume, savory-sweet.

Cucumber note image

Cucumber

Watery, green, and crisp. It brings a spa-like coolness.

Cantaloupe note image

Cantaloupe

Sweet, watery orange melon. It smells fresh, aquatic, and summery.

Breadnut note image

Breadnut

Similar to chestnut, smelling starchy and nutty. It provides a savory, food-like base.

Hog Plum note image

Hog Plum

Spondias mombin. A tropical fruit smelling tart and musky.

Dewberry note image

Dewberry

A 90s icon, smelling like a sweet, jammy blackberry. It is dark fruity and nostalgic.

Cupuaçu, Cupuassu, Copoasu note image

Cupuaçu, Cupuassu, Copoasu

Amazonian fruit related to cacao. Smells like chocolate and pineapple.

Cepes note image

Cepes

Porcini mushrooms. They smell earthy, fleshy, and savory.

Cashew note image

Cashew

Creamy, fatty, and soft nut scent. It adds a buttery texture.

Buriti note image

Buriti

An Amazonian palm fruit smelling oily, woody, and fruity. It is exotic and rich.

View All Fruits, Nuts & Savoury Notes Notes

Musk, Amber, Animalic Smells

These are the sensual heavyweights that linger on the skin long after the citrus has fled, providing warmth, depth, and a certain human intimacy. From the cozy, golden glow of amber to the primitive, purring growl of civet, these notes transform a simple scent into a living, breathing entity.

Kephalis note image

Kephalis

A synthetic wood note smelling of warm amber, tobacco, and old wood.

Daim note image

Daim

The French term for suede; it smells softer and more velvety than full leather. It evokes the inside of a luxury handbag.

Amber note image

Amber

A fantasy accord that wraps you up like a cashmere throw. It’s warm, resinous, and vanillic, providing a golden glow to the dry-down.

Goat Hair note image

Goat Hair

Animalic, musky, and distinctly barnyard. It adds a feral, rustic warmth.

Meat note image

Meat

Raw or cooked flesh. Iron-like, savory, and primal.

Goat's Milk note image

Goat's Milk

Creamy but slightly tart and animalic. A funky milky note.

Kyphi note image

Kyphi

Ancient Egyptian incense recipe. Smells of wine, raisins, honey, and resins.

Skatole note image

Skatole

Fecal in high concentration, floral (white flower) in low. Essential for realistic jasmine.

Skin note image

Skin

Salty, warm, and musky. The smell of a human being.

Ambrette (Musk Mallow) note image

Ambrette (Musk Mallow)

A vegetal musk derived from seeds, smelling of pear brandy and clean skin. It is one of the few natural musks and feels incredibly sophisticated.

Sea Shells note image

Sea Shells

Calcium and salt. Dry mineral scent.

Ambrettolide note image

Ambrettolide

A vegan musk molecule with fruity, floral undertones. It brings a soft, soapy cleanliness and exceptional longevity.

Leather note image

Leather

Tanned hide, birch tar, and smoke. Whether harsh or soft, it adds a distinct skin-like toughness.

Beeswax note image

Beeswax

Sweet, animalic, and sticky, with hints of honey and pollen. It adds a natural, waxy richness to the base.

Bacon note image

Bacon

Smoky, salty, and meaty—a novelty note for the brave. It adds a savory, breakfast-time shock to a composition.

Aldron note image

Aldron

An animalic synthetic that mimics body heat and slight sweat. It adds a lived-in, human sensuality to otherwise sterile scents.

Saffiano Leather note image

Saffiano Leather

A specific textured leather print (Prada). Smells clean, synthetic, and expensive.

Musk note image

Musk

The sensual fog that holds a perfume together. Can be clean (laundry) or dirty (skin).

Carrot Seeds note image

Carrot Seeds

Dry, woody, and earthy. It acts as a bridge between iris notes and woods.

Truffle note image

Truffle

Fungus not chocolate. Earthy, musky, and savory.

View All Musk, Amber, Animalic Smells Notes

Beverages

Whether it is the effervescent joy of champagne, the roasted bitterness of espresso, or the warming embrace of a good cognac, these notes add a distinct 'flavour' to the air. They invoke specific moods and social rituals, taking the wearer from a morning café to a dimly lit jazz bar in a single spritz.

Daiquiri note image

Daiquiri

Lime, rum, and sugar. It creates a zesty, sweet, and boozy accord that smells like a summer holiday.

Cappuccino note image

Cappuccino

Coffee with foamed milk. It smells roasted but creamy and comforting.

Cocktail Fruits note image

Cocktail Fruits

Canned fruit salad. Syrupy, mixed fruitiness.

Absinthe note image

Absinthe

Aromatic and bitter with that notorious anise kick. It evokes bohemian Paris and adds a dangerous, green edge to any composition.

Goldwasser note image

Goldwasser

A herbal liqueur with gold flakes. Smells of anise, caraway, and citrus.

Espresso Coffee note image

Espresso Coffee

Specifically the steamed, pressurized bean smell. Energizing and bitter.

Wine Lees note image

Wine Lees

Fermentation sediment. Yeasty and fruity.

Vodka note image

Vodka

Pure alcohol and water. Smells cold and sterile.

Amarula note image

Amarula

A creamy liqueur note from the Marula fruit, smelling of caramel and fruit. It is milky and exotic, evocative of an African sunset.

Madeira note image

Madeira

Fortified wine. Smells oxidized, nutty, and caramelized.

Mai Tai Cocktail note image

Mai Tai Cocktail

Rum, lime, and orgeat (almond). Tropical, boozy, and sweet.

Vinegar note image

Vinegar

Acetic acid. Sour and pungent.

Limoncello note image

Limoncello

Italian lemon liqueur. Intense, sweet lemon zest and alcohol.

Mocha note image

Mocha

Coffee and chocolate. Dark, roasted sweetness.

Bourbon Whiskey note image

Bourbon Whiskey

Sweet, oaky, and vanilla-rich alcohol. It brings a warm, masculine depth to gourmand and woody scents.

Mulled Wine note image

Mulled Wine

Red wine, cloves, and orange peel. Warm, spicy, and festive.

Champagne note image

Champagne

Sparkling and slightly yeasty, capturing the effervescence of a celebration. It adds a dry, fruity fizz that tickles the nose.

Kir Royal note image

Kir Royal

Champagne and crème de cassis. Fizzy, berry-sweet, and chic.

Calvados Drink note image

Calvados Drink

French apple brandy. It smells of warm, fermented apples and oak barrels.

Bellini note image

Bellini

Peach puree and Prosecco. It smells fizzy, fruity, and sweet, capturing the essence of brunch in Venice.

View All Beverages Notes

Molecules, Minerals & Curiosities

This is the avant-garde laboratory of the perfumer, featuring everything from the smell of hot rain on asphalt to the invisible radiance of Iso E Super. These notes are often less about a specific 'smell' and more about a texture, a feeling, or an atmospheric vibration that gives modern fragrances their edge.

Gourmand

An unapologetically hedonistic category dedicated to the pleasures of the patisserie, featuring dripping caramel, fluffy cotton candy, and rich chocolate. While purists may scoff, there is a profound, primal comfort in these sugary notes that bypasses the brain and goes straight to the stomach—and the heart.

Rose Milk note image

Rose Milk

Creamy floral scent. Soothing and pink.

Calissons d'Aix note image

Calissons d'Aix

A French candy made of melon and almond paste. It smells fruity, nutty, and sweet.

Gianduia note image

Gianduia

Chocolate and hazelnut paste. It is rich, nutty, and sweet (think Nutella).

Cheesecake note image

Cheesecake

Cream cheese, sugar, and crust. It is tangy, creamy, and heavy.

Baked Apple note image

Baked Apple

Warm, soft fruit with caramelized sugars. It lacks the crispness of fresh apple, replacing it with comforting warmth.

Dark Chocolate note image

Dark Chocolate

Bitter, roasted, and dusty cocoa beans. It adds a sophisticated gourmand edge without the sugar rush of milk chocolate.

Chocolate Truffle note image

Chocolate Truffle

Dark chocolate dusted with cocoa powder. It smells sophisticated and powdery.

Butter note image

Butter

Rich, fatty, and creamy. It adds a dense, savory mouthfeel to gourmand fragrances.

Chantilly Cream note image

Chantilly Cream

Sweet whipped cream. It adds a fluffy, airy vanilla sweetness.

Cereals note image

Cereals

The smell of breakfast grains. Toasty, comforting, and wheaty.

Croissant note image

Croissant

Butter and baked dough. It evokes a Parisian morning.

Candied Orange note image

Candied Orange

Sweet, sticky orange peel. It smells festive, often associated with Christmas cakes.

Honey note image

Honey

Sweet, animalic, and golden. It can smell urinous (like civet) or purely sugary depending on the dosage.

Candies note image

Candies

A general note for hard, sugary sweets. It brings a playful, artificial fruitiness.

French Pastries note image

French Pastries

Butter, sugar, and vanity. A generic gourmand richness.

Coconut Powder note image

Coconut Powder

Dry, desiccated coconut. It smells milky but dusty.

Dates note image

Dates

Sticky, honeyed fruit with a dense, sugary profile. It evokes the warmth and richness of the Middle East.

Cherry Milk note image

Cherry Milk

Creamy fruit scent. It softens the tart cherry with lactonic notes.

Buttercream note image

Buttercream

Sugar and fat whipped together. It smells like frosting—vanillic, sweet, and heavy.

Brioche note image

Brioche

Sweet, buttery bread with a distinct egginess. It is rich, fluffy, and gourmand.

View All Gourmand Notes

Woods & Earth

The stoic backbone of fragrance, grounding the flightier notes with the scent of ancient trunks, dry bark, and the damp, shadowed floor of the forest. Ranging from the creamy spirituality of sandalwood to the dry, pencil-shaving snap of cedar, these notes provide structure, longevity, and a timeless elegance.

Cork note image

Cork

Dry, woody, and light. Smells like a wine stopper or bark.

Palo Santo note image

Palo Santo

Holy Wood. It smells creamy, lemony, and smoky, used for cleansing energy.

Indian Sandalwood note image

Indian Sandalwood

Santalum Album. The creamy, milky king of woods that smells impossibly smooth and buttery.

Beech note image

Beech

A light, clean wood scent that is less resinous than pine. It smells like fresh carpentry and forests.

Incienso note image

Incienso

A desert shrub (Encelia) that smells resinous and pine-like. It is pungent and aromatic.

Belambra Tree note image

Belambra Tree

A synthetic wood note by Givaudan that smells dry, amber-like, and sophisticated. It adds modern radiance.

Black Hemlock or Tsuga note image

Black Hemlock or Tsuga

A conifer scent that is piney, woody, and slightly fruity. It evokes deep, dark forests.

Brazilian Rosewood note image

Brazilian Rosewood

Also known as Bois de Rose, it smells sweet, woody, and floral. It is elegant and highly endangered, so often synthetic now.

Cottonwood (Poplar) note image

Cottonwood (Poplar)

Sweet, balsamic, and woody. The buds smell like honey and resin.

Coconut Tree note image

Coconut Tree

The woody trunk scent. Dry, fibrous, and slightly salty.

Cherry Tree note image

Cherry Tree

Woody and slightly fruity. It provides a solid base for blossom scents.

Cedar note image

Cedar

The smell of fresh pencil shavings or a dry sauna. It provides a sturdy, clean woody backbone that grounds flightier notes.

Indian Woods note image

Indian Woods

A generic woody accord inspired by the subcontinent. Usually creamy and spicy.

White Willow note image

White Willow

Woody and slightly bitter.

Liquidambar note image

Liquidambar

Sweetgum. It produces a balsamic resin (Styrax) that smells sweet and spicy.

Papyrus note image

Papyrus

Dry, smoky, and woody. It smells of ancient scrolls and river reeds.

Mango Tree note image

Mango Tree

Woody and green.

Kenya Rosewood note image

Kenya Rosewood

A wood smelling faintly floral and dry.

Indian Oud note image

Indian Oud

The wildest of ouds, often smelling barnyard-like, leathery, and deeply animalic. It is intense and not for the shy.

Buddha Wood note image

Buddha Wood

An Australian wood also known as False Sandalwood. It smells woody, smoky, and rose-like.

View All Woods & Earth Notes

White Flowers

A distinct league of floral powerhouses including Tuberose, Jasmine, and Gardenia, known for their creamy, narcotic heaviness that often intensifies as the sun goes down. Unlike their shy daylight cousins, these blooms possess a carnal, indolic undertone—a whisper of animalic warmth amidst the sweetness—that makes them unapologetically sensual and dominating.

Gardenia note image

Gardenia

Heady, creamy white floral with a distinct mushroomy or blue cheese undertone. It is lush and narcotic.

Tiare Flower note image

Tiare Flower

Tahitian Gardenia. Creamy, tropical, and sweet.

Stephanotis note image

Stephanotis

Madagascar Jasmine. Waxy, sweet, and bridal.

Black Locust note image

Black Locust

A tree with white flowers that smell intensely sweet and honeyed, similar to orange blossom but heavier.

Syringa note image

Syringa

Lilac. Sweet and fresh.

Boronia note image

Boronia

A rare Australian flower with a complex scent of fruit, wood, and violet. It is expensive and highly prized.

Lemon Blossom note image

Lemon Blossom

Waxy white floral with a citrus edge. Fresh and pretty.

Moon Flower note image

Moon Flower

Ipomoea alba. A night-blooming vine smelling sweet and musky.

Belanis note image

Belanis

A synthetic molecule that smells of anise and white florals. It bridges the gap between spice and petal.

Night Blooming Cereus note image

Night Blooming Cereus

A cactus flower. Vanilla-scented and spicy.

Grapefruit Blossom note image

Grapefruit Blossom

Like neroli but sharper. Floral with a bitter citrus edge.

Karo-Karounde note image

Karo-Karounde

An African flower smelling of jasmine, chocolate, and spices. It is rich and dark.

Honeysuckle note image

Honeysuckle

Nectar-heavy, sunny, and sweet. It captures the smell of warm summer evenings perfectly.

Jasmine note image

Jasmine

The King of Flowers. It can smell fresh and tea-like or heavy, animalic, and narcotic depending on the variety.

Mock Orange note image

Mock Orange

Philadelphus. Smells intensely like orange blossom but sweeter.

Frangipani note image

Frangipani

Plumeria. Thick, creamy, and tropical, smelling of almonds and fruit. It is the scent of a holiday.

Mandarin Orange Blossom note image

Mandarin Orange Blossom

Floral and honeyed.

Carissa note image

Carissa

Natal Plum blossoms, smelling similar to gardenia and jasmine. A lush, white floral.

Arum Lily note image

Arum Lily

A fleshy white floral scent that can be slightly animalic. It smells grand and imposing, like a wedding bouquet.

Datura note image

Datura

A poisonous flower with a narcotic, almond-like floral scent. It smells dangerous, heavy, and hypnotic.

View All White Flowers Notes

Botanicals & Aromatics

This is the scent of the apothecary’s garden and the gentleman’s barber, full of crushed leaves, bracing mint, and the calming herbaceousness of lavender. These notes cut through heat and heaviness with a savory, green clarity that feels restorative, intelligent, and famously spirited.

Gajumaru Banyan note image

Gajumaru Banyan

A fig tree variety. Smells woody, green, and aerial roots.

Spearmint note image

Spearmint

Sweeter mint. Like chewing gum.

Angelica note image

Angelica

Green, musky, and peppery with a unique herbal bite. It adds a crisp, natural sophistication that feels botanical and fresh.

Deer Tongue Grass note image

Deer Tongue Grass

Rich in coumarin, smelling of vanilla, hay, and almonds. It creates a sweet, herbaceous warmth.

Assam Tea note image

Assam Tea

A robust, malty black tea scent that is dark and tannic. It adds a sophisticated, breakfast-time depth to scents.

Agave note image

Agave

Sweet, green, and succulent with a slight hint of earth. It brings a watery, vegetal freshness reminiscent of aloe but sweeter.

Bay Essence note image

Bay Essence

Spicy, medicinal, and warming. It smells of old-school rum splashes and barbershops.

Grass note image

Grass

Freshly cut lawn. Green, sweet, and chlorophyll-heavy.

Celery note image

Celery

Green, watery, and slightly spicy. It adds a savory vegetable freshness.

Keemun Tea note image

Keemun Tea

A Chinese black tea with a wine-like, fruity, and smoky aroma.

Behini Tree note image

Behini Tree

A rare Malagasy tree with a green, woody aroma. It smells exotic and unfamiliar to Western noses.

Cedar Leaves note image

Cedar Leaves

Green and camphoraceous, unlike the dry wood. It smells forest-fresh.

Lily-of-the-Valley Leaves note image

Lily-of-the-Valley Leaves

Pure green freshness. It lacks the floral bell note.

Roots note image

Roots

Damp earth and tubers. Grounding.

Lovage Root note image

Lovage Root

Smells distinctively like celery and Maggi seasoning. Very savory.

Fo Ti (Ho Shou Wu) note image

Fo Ti (Ho Shou Wu)

A Chinese medicinal root. Earthy, bittersweet, and herbaceous.

Mint note image

Mint

Cool, green, and refreshing. Menthol adds a physical cooling effect.

Calycanthus note image

Calycanthus

Also known as Carolina Allspice, smelling of strawberry, pineapple, and spice. It is a fruity-floral shrub.

Angelica Root note image

Angelica Root

Earthier and muskier than the plant, with a damp soil quality. It serves as a fantastic natural fixative with a dark green character.

Betel Leaf note image

Betel Leaf

Peppery, green, and slightly medicinal. It has a stimulating aroma popular in Southeast Asia.

View All Botanicals & Aromatics Notes

Spices

These ingredients bring the heat and the vibration, adding a three-dimensional hum to a composition that tickles the nose and wakes up the palate. From the cooling, camphorous touch of cardamom to the fiery crackle of black pepper, spices prevent a fragrance from ever feeling flat or boring.

Carum note image

Carum

Another name for Caraway. Spicy, anise-like, and sharp.

Cardamom note image

Cardamom

A duality of cool camphor and warm spice. It’s sophisticated and aromatic, often making a fragrance feel effortlessly expensive.

Cinnamon Leaf note image

Cinnamon Leaf

Smells like clove and cinnamon combined. It is harsher and greener than the bark.

Curry note image

Curry

A blend of spices (cumin, fenugreek). It smells savory and warm.

Saffron note image

Saffron

Red gold. It smells leathery, metallic, and medicinal. The most expensive spice in the world.

Coffee note image

Coffee

Dark, roasted, and energizing, bringing a bitter gourmand edge. It grounds sweetness and adds a restless, urban energy to a scent.

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper note image

Cubeb or Tailed Pepper

A pepper variety with a camphorous, allspice-like scent. Cooler than black pepper.

Spicy Notes note image

Spicy Notes

General warmth. Cinnamon, clove, pepper mix.

Fennel note image

Fennel

Sweet, green anise flavor. It adds a cool, herbal licorice note.

Water Pepper note image

Water Pepper

Smartweed. Sharp and peppery.

Allspice note image

Allspice

A warm spice rack in a single note, smelling of clove, cinnamon, and nutmeg combined. It feels festive and warming, perfect for winter.

Coriander note image

Coriander

The seed, not the leaf. It smells woody, spicy, citrusy, and warm.

Guinea Pepper note image

Guinea Pepper

Grains of Paradise. Peppery, citrusy, and woody.

Vanilla note image

Vanilla

The real bean is woody, boozy, and spicy. Not just simple sugar.

Carolina Reaper note image

Carolina Reaper

The hottest chili pepper. In perfume, it adds an aggressive, tingling heat.

Cumin note image

Cumin

Spicy, warm, and unapologetically human, bordering on the smell of sweat. It adds a carnal, savory heat that makes a fragrance feel alive.

Siam Cardamom note image

Siam Cardamom

Amomum. Camphorous and spicy.

Pink Pepper note image

Pink Pepper

Not a true pepper, but a berry. It smells rosy, sparkling, and like gin.

Coffee Tincture note image

Coffee Tincture

Alcohol infusion of coffee. Smells lighter and boozier than the absolute.

Cacao Pod note image

Cacao Pod

The raw bean smell—bitter, dusty, and earthy. It is chocolate before the sugar is added.

View All Spices Notes

Resins And Balsams

The ancient tears of trees, these materials have been burned in rituals for millennia and bring a sacred, meditative smoke to perfumery. They are thick, sticky, and profoundly complex, offering a sweet, leathery darkness that feels like a protective cloak against the cold.

Mopane note image

Mopane

African Balsam. Smells turpentine-like and woody.

Bisabolene note image

Bisabolene

A terpene that smells balsamic, woody, and slightly citrusy. It is often found in myrrh and opoponax.

Japanese Incense note image

Japanese Incense

Clean, low-smoke incense usually based on sandalwood and aloeswood. It is meditative and dry.

Balsamic Notes note image

Balsamic Notes

A group of resinous materials like benzoin and myrrh that smell warm, sweet, and thick. They wrap a fragrance in a cozy amber blanket.

Bakhoor note image

Bakhoor

Wood chips soaked in perfume oil and burned, creating a smoky, fragrant cloud. It smells traditional, Middle Eastern, and welcoming.

Peru Balsam note image

Peru Balsam

Rich, sweet, and vanilla-like resin. It acts as a fixative and smooths everything out.

Benzoin note image

Benzoin

A comforting balsamic resin that smells of vanilla and cinnamon. It gives fragrances a cozy, almost edible warmth without being overly sugary.

Bois d'Encens note image

Bois d'Encens

Incense wood. It smells peppery, resinous, and spiritual, inspired by church incense.

Mastic or Lentisque note image

Mastic or Lentisque

A resin from the Mediterranean. Smells distinctively green, piney, and crisp.

Pine Tar note image

Pine Tar

Smoky, leathery, and dark. Smells of campfires and ships.

Balsamic Vinegar note image

Balsamic Vinegar

Acidic, fruity, and aged, with a dark sweetness. It adds a sharp, gourmet counterpoint to sweet notes like strawberry.

Myrrh note image

Myrrh

A resin that smells of mushrooms, licorice, and earth. It is darker and stranger than frankincense.

Olibanum (Frankincense) note image

Olibanum (Frankincense)

Lemony, piney, and cold. It smells of high church mass and ancient rituals.

Copal note image

Copal

A resin used in incense in Mexico. It smells bright, lemony, and piney.

Labdanum note image

Labdanum

The cornerstone of amber accords. It smells leathery, sweet, dirty, and warm all at once.

Copahu Balm note image

Copahu Balm

Copaiba balsam. It smells woody, spicy, and mild.

Resins note image

Resins

Hardened tree sap. Amber, sticky, and warm.

Choya Ral note image

Choya Ral

Roasted Sal tree resin. It smells leathery, smoky, and woody.

Andiroba note image

Andiroba

An oil from the Amazon that smells woody, nutty, and slightly bitter. It adds a wild, unpolished texture to a fragrance.

Amberwood note image

Amberwood

A sturdy blend of amber warmth and dry cedar-like woodiness. It acts as a strong pillar holding up the rest of the scent structure.

View All Resins And Balsams Notes

Citrus

The sunshine of the fragrance world, these volatile oils provide the sparkling opening act that greets you the moment the mist hits the air. While they are fleeting by nature, their zesty, sour-sweet optimism is essential for lifting the heavier materials and preventing a perfume from feeling like a lead weight.

Methyl Pamplemousse note image

Methyl Pamplemousse

A synthetic grapefruit. Bitter, fresh, and slightly floral.

Buddha's hand note image

Buddha's hand

A strange citrus fruit smelling of lemon zest and flowers without the juice. It is dry and aromatic.

Shiikuwasha note image

Shiikuwasha

Okinawa Lime. Sour and tangerine-like.

Hatkora Lemon note image

Hatkora Lemon

A citrus used in Bengal. The thick rind smells incredibly oily and zest-heavy.

Pokan note image

Pokan

Taiwanese mandarin. Sweet and loose-skinned.

Tangelo note image

Tangelo

Tangerine-Grapefruit hybrid. Sweet and tart.

Litsea Cubeba note image

Litsea Cubeba

May Chang. An shrub that smells intensely like lemon sherbet sweets.

Quenepa note image

Quenepa

Spanish Lime. Sour and jelly-like fruit.

Bigarade note image

Bigarade

Another name for Bitter Orange. It is sharp, zesty, and less sweet than regular orange, adding a sophisticated tartness.

Yuzu note image

Yuzu

Japanese grapefruit. A complex mix of lime, mandarin, and pine. Bitter and aromatic.

Mandarin Orange note image

Mandarin Orange

Sweeter and less acidic than orange. It smells candy-like and joyous.

Tangerine Zest note image

Tangerine Zest

Oily orange peel scent.

Lemon Balm note image

Lemon Balm

Melissa. It smells like lemon mixed with mint and herbs.

Perfume lemon note image

Perfume lemon

A specific aromatic lemon variety. Intense zest.

Bitter Orange note image

Bitter Orange

Zesty and sharp, lacking the sugar of sweet oranges. It provides a refreshing, adult citrus note.

Grapefruit Leaf note image

Grapefruit Leaf

Green and petitgrain-like. It adds a leafy bitterness.

Lemon note image

Lemon

Bright, acidic, and sunny. It can smell like fresh zest or cleaning fluid depending on the quality.

Kumquat note image

Kumquat

Sour orange. It smells sharper and more bitter than a sweet orange.

Bergamot note image

Bergamot

The finest of citruses, famous for giving Earl Grey tea its distinct aroma. It’s bitter, tart, and floral all at once—the perfect opening act.

Citron note image

Citron

A large, ancient citrus fruit. It smells dry, zesty, and less sweet than lemon.

View All Citrus Notes

Assorted

A curated cabinet of curiosities for the notes that defy our desire for neat little boxes, yet remain absolutely essential to the perfumer's palette. Here you will find the outliers and the individualists, ingredients that possess a character so distinct they refuse to sit quietly with the flowers or the fruits.